Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Nov. l0, 1925 1,560,843

J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 15. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 10,1925. A 1,560,843

J. F. O'CONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 13, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1553i 7 J Jl /7F nga l r77\ V/////////A E I. By my Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNI-fran s 'rarss PATENT GFFCE,

JOHN-F. OCONNOR, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIG' NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO W. H. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FRIcTIoN sHocK-ABsoRBIivG MECHANISM.

application :ned November is, 1922. serial No. 600,562.

To all whom t may concern `Be it known that I, JOHN F. OCoNNon. a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefullmprovement in Friction Shock-AbsorbingMechanisms, of whichthe following is a fulh'clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificatlon.` i e This invention relates to improvements in friction shock'absorbing mechanisms.

One'object of the invention is to provide a high capacity friction kshock absorbing mechanism especially adapted for railway draft riggings wherein the friction elements are so designedA that a differential action of one type is induced 4during an early-portion of the compression stroke for a predetermined distance, yfollowed by a different and double. differential action for the, remainder of the com ression stroke.

A specifih .object of the invention is to provide in a friction gear of the differential type, means whereby one4 set of elements operates substantially as a solid unit for a predetermined portion of the compression stroke, after which said elements operate as independent elements with a consequent increase in the number of friction surfaces brought into play during thev final portions of the compression stroke.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims herelnafter following. In the drawings forminga part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal Sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith, parts being broken away to better accommodate the figure on the sheet. Figure 2 is a verticalI transverse sectional view of the shock absorbing mechamsm proper' corresponding to the section line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view corresponding to the setinfline 3--3l of Figure L And Figures, 4," 5, `6 fand `7 areY detail perspectives of' 'a partitiorfe'mployedf 'with Yte; shell, :an vouter wedgefrictilon-shoe, ,-an' inner ivied'g'evngicui;n'shoe; arid 'af Jwedgepfingfoilower,

faces of :which are secured front stop lugs 11 and rear stop lugs 12. A portion of a drawbar is indicated at 13, the same being operatively associated with a hooded cast yoke 14 within which is disposed the shock absorbing mechanism proper and a front follower 15. Theyoke and parts therewithin arevsupported .in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 1G.

TheI improved shock absorbing mechanism proper,l as shown, comprises, broadly, a combinedfriction shell and spring cage casting A; aspringresistance B; two-outer wedgefriction-shocs C-C a floating partition D, two' inner wedgeriction-shoes E--Eg a wedge-spring follower F; and a retainer bolt G.

The casting A is provided at its front or outer end with a friction shell proper defined by top-and bottom walls 17-17 and side walls 12S-#18, thelatter being provided on their inner sides with friction surfaces 19-19 which are converged inwardly of the shell at an appreciable taper. -Rearwardly of the shell proper, the casting A is necked inwardly to provide a spring cage or casing 2O to house and center the spring B. At its rear end, the casting A is formed with an integral vertical wall 21 1atera lly extended and suitably reinforced to-adapt it-to act as the rear follower ofthe mechanism in conj unction with the-stop lugs 12. Y

The 4two outer, wedge-friction-shoes C-C Yare of-,like construction but oppositely arranged. Eachfis formed with a front transversely extending flat friction surface 22. an -outer or side.. friction surface 23 and an inner edge-friction surface 24, said surfaces 23 and 24frictionally cooperating with the front follower 15, a shell friction surface 1t) andan inner wedge-shoe E, re-

spectively.Y s

, The two inner edge-friction-shoes E are fof like constructionbutl oppositely arranged, each having a frontwedge-friction surface 25, an innerlongitudinally extending fiat friction surface 26, and an inner wedge face 2,7. ,'.lhe-ivedge face 25,'cooperates withA the wedge Yface 2t of the corresponding shoe C and the' friction Ysurface' 26 cooperates. with jthe'oa'ting"partition'D, in the mannenhereliiiaftr.: descrihed,.=, .The two wedge. surfaces 2,75 of the shoes E, which converge inwardly of theV shell, cooperate with correspond- "in'glyl arranged lwedge faces 2$T28 provided lilo on ther for'wai-d s'ide of the spring" follower F.

The floating partition D is in the nature of a hea-v)7 block having opposed parallel side friction surfaces 29;;29 cooperabl' with the respective friction surfaces 26 of the shoes E. On its top and bottom edges, the partition l) has tiansrersel)y extending relativel)v wide grooves 30-3() within which extend narrower ribs 31-31 formed on the inner faces of the top and bottom walls 17-1? of the casting A, as best shown in Figure 3. \\'itli this construction, it is evident that the partition D is allowed longitudinal,movement with respect toA the cast'- ing A for a limited distance, as will appear from an inspection of Figure 3. At its front end, the partition D is beveled as shown at 32-32 to provide the necessary clearance for the wedge-Shoes C at the end of the compression stroke.

The retainer bolt G is anchored at its inner end within a suitable hollow boss formed integral with the castingl A and at its forward end within a recess provided in the Front foliower 15. The two followers l5 and F are. suitabl)v apertured to accommodate the shank of the, bolt.

The. operation of the mechanism during a compression stroke, assuming a batting movement of the drawbar. is as follows. s' the front follower 15 is moved inwardly, the two wedge-shoes C are forced rearwai-dlav at the same rate and as the wedge- -l'ioes travel down the inclined shell friction surfaces l), lateral movement toward each other will be imparted to the shoes C, thus creating friction not oni)y between the shoes C and the shell but also between the shoes C and the follower l5. During the earl): part of the compression stroke, a differential action will he imparted to the twowedgc-shoes E and the fioating partition D, which will act substantially as a solid unit, which unit will he advanced longitudinally at a faster rate than the follower I5, due to the lateral movement imparted to the shoes C. This action of the three-part unit referred to will be vieldingly resisted b v the spring B actingl through the follower F and continues until the floating,r partition D is prevented from further movement longit'iidinallv of the casting A. For the remainder of the Stroke, it is vident that the Alielial approach of the wedge-shoes C will continue and consequently the wedge-shoes E willbe` forced to travel inwardly of the then stationary floating jartition D. During the entire movement ofl wedge-shoes E, it is evident that they will gjilpped at their inner ends by the follower so that the @cessare and `friction between the Stmas;q E and the donf-ine partition D will bedistip-n dewirimane@ si the actuating forc, the three elements E aiid D will travel oiltwardly'as a unit until the partition D engages with the ribs 31- and further outward movement thereof' is' prevented. By this time, the wedge-shoes C will obviously have been loosened so that the balance of the outward movement of the shoes E with respect to the Heating' partition will be imparted thereto without danger of sticking by the follower F under the infiuence of the sprl'n B.

From the preceding description, it wr be seen that, during the firstpartof' the coinpression stroke, I obtain a dierential 'action of one character and, during the .balance of the compression s'tiok'e, a different diaerentiai action' of increased capacity, thereby providing a graduated resistance well arranged to absor relatively small shocks as well as the' more infrequent heavy shocks withoutI urifide'ssary wear' of the parts.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider'- the preferred manner-'of carrying out my invention, but the. same is 'i mereljv illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

l claim l l. In a friction shock absorbing meehanism, the combination with a friction shell having inwardly converged friction surfaces; of a spring resistance; an outer follower; a' plurality of friction members cooperable with the shell, follower and each other. to prodnee a' differential action of one character during a portion of the compression stroke; and means, operable during the balance of the compression stroke, for producing a differential action of a different character.

2. Iii a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell havingl inwardly converged friction surfaces;A of a spring resistance; an outer follower; wedge-frieti'on-shoes co'operable with said sliell and follower: a )"l'nralit)v of friction elements co-operablc with Said shoes and including a oating friction post. Said post being movable inwardtj' of the shell diiring a compression sii-01m; and means limiting the inward 'time nient of said post with respect to the' 'shell to less than a full compression movenient.1

3. In `a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a fgriotion shell having: inwardiy .converged friction Sur:- faces; of a` `s"`rin resistance; an oiiter foilaweri; we' enema-shoes @dop-'arabia with said. Shen and pfslewer; @scena-n3' wedge-nationalities cderable wit-.11'- nrst nai-aca friction sides; a .tact-mn member interposed betweenz said 'seo- .sndes iria ,sp-de wenn .laitier sie a 'aired wende, sieV faran isa-aaa being mounted to move relatively to the shell during a compression stroke a distance less than the full compression stroke; and means interposed between said spring resist 'ce and secondary shoes for pressing the latter against said friction member.

al. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having opposed interior inwardlyv converged friction surfaces; of a spring resistance; an outer pressure-transmitting follower; a pair of outer wedge-friction-shoes interposed between said follower and the shell and cooperable with both; a centrally disposed friction partition within the shell and mounted for limited movement longitudinally thereof during a compression stroke; and additional friction shoes, one on each side of said partition, interposed between the latter and the first named friction shoes and cooperable therewith, said shoes being movable in unison with said post during a portion of the compression stroke, and relatively movable to said post during the reA mainder of said stroke.

In a friction shock absorbing mechanisin, the combination with a friction shell having a pair of opposed inwardly converged friction surfaces; a spring resistance; an outer Jressure-transmittin follower; a centrally disposed partition wlthin the shell having friction surfaces on each side thereof and adapted for limited movement with respect to the shell longitudinally thereof during a compression stroke of the mechanism; an outer pair of wedge-fricti0nshoes, each cooper-able with the follower and one of the shell friction surfaces; a pair of inner wedge-friction-shoes, one on each side of said partition and frictionally cooperable therewith and with the corresponding outer friction shoe; and a spring follower interposed between the spring resistance and said inner friction shoes and having Wedge gripping engagement with the inner ends of the latter.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th da)v of October, 1922.

JOHN F. OCONNOR.

lit) 

